Our Staff

We have a team of experienced doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals that are committed to providing you the highest standard of care and treatment.

Doctors

DR ANDREW POLKINGHORN

Male

BM MRCGP DCH DRCOG DFFP

GP Partner and GP Trainer

DR NATASHA GARRETT

Female

BM MRCGP MRCPH DRCOG DFFP

GP Partner

DR RATHIKA THANGAVEL

Female

MRCGP, DRCOG

GP Partner

DR VICKY BLYTHE

Female

BSc, BMBS, MRCGP 2022, DRCOG Partner

GP Partner

DR AMY BRIDGMAN

Female

MB BS 2016

Salaried GP

DR CAMILLA JOHNSON

Female

MBBS, MRCGP 2005, DFFP 2006

Salaried GP

DR CLARE WEDDERBURN

Female

FRCGP PGDME DCH DA MBBS.

Salaried GP

DR EDWARD RAWSTHORNE

Male

BM BS 2009

Salaried GP

DR KATIE HANDASYDE DICK

Female

MB BS 2013, MRCGP 2022

Salaried GP

DR OLLIE TURNER

Male

GP Registrar - a fully qualified doctor completing their specialist training to become a General Practitioner.

Physician Associates

CHIDO HAMADZIRIPI

Female

BSc Biomedical Sciences, MSc Physician Associate Studies Physician Associate

Nurses

Practice nurses are qualified and registered nurses. They can help with health issues such as family planning, healthy living advice, blood pressure checks, injections and dressings. The practice nurses run clinics for long-term health conditions such as asthma or diabetes and all three are able to carry out cervical smears.

CHARLOTTE MERRIFIELD

RGN

Asthma, COPD

JANE FOX

RGN

Diabetes

BECKY COLE

RGN

Frailty Team

PAUL FOX

HCA/Tracker/Frailty Service

Healthcare Assistants

Healthcare assistants support practice nurses with their daily work and carry out tasks such as phlebotomy (drawing blood), undertake ECG's and assist with minor operations. Some are also able to carry out injections such as flu, pneumonia, shingles and vitamin B12. They may act as a chaperone when a patient or doctor requests one.

Practice Management

EVE HOLCOMBE

Business Manager (BSc, MSc)

The Business Manager is involved in managing all of the business aspects of the practice such as making sure that the right systems are in place to provide a high quality of patient care, human resources, finance, patient safety, premises and equipment and information technology.

MARCIA RUSSELL

Patient Services Manager

The Patient Services Manager supports the GPs and other medical professionals with delivering patient services, manages complaints and also helps to develop extended services to enhance patient care.

GILL ASHCROFT

Operations Co-Ordinator

Reception

Receptionists provide an important link for patients with the practice and are your initial contact point for general enquiries. They can provide basic information on services and results and direct you to the right person depending on your health issue or query. Receptionists make most of the patient appointments with the GPs and nurses. They also perform other important tasks such as issuing repeat prescriptions and dealing with prescription enquiries, dealing with financial claims, dealing with patient records and carrying out searches and practice audits. Their job is very demanding so please be patient.

Community Midwives

Patients at the surgery can have midwife care out of either Poole General Hospital or Salisbury District Hospital, and deliver at the chosen hospital. Poole Hospital Midwives work out of the Verwood Hub and you can self refer. Salisbury midwives conduct their appointments here at the surgery - if you would like to deliver at Salisbury, please pop into the surgery for a welcome pack.

Health Visitors

The Health Visitor and her team specialise in child & maternity care and are also involved in health promotion at other ages.

Community staff

Dorset Healthcare University Foundation Trust (DHUFT) employs Community Nurses, Health Visitors, Child and Family Counsellors who work from within Verwood Surgery.
Page last reviewed: 14 October 2026
Page created: 14 October 2026